Community pool opening

City's swimming facility marks 50 years

The season starts May 25, with a cookout on schedule for Memorial Day

When Bexley's David H. Madison Community Pool opens this weekend, it will celebrate 50 years.

With three pools, two water slides, a splash pad and diving boards, the Bexley Community Pool is a modern facility that was built in 2007, but the summertime gathering place on the Jeffrey Mansion grounds at 165 N. Parkview hasn't moved since 1963.

"This is obviously a different pool on the same exact spot, but we thought it was appropriate to honor that anniversary, because without the foresight of those involved in the Civic Improvement Association in 1963, who knows whether we'd have a pool today?" said Michael Price, Bexley Parks and Recreation's executive director.

The pool opens at noon Saturday, May 25; on Memorial Day, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, May 27, a free cookout will be held in honor of the golden anniversary. Mayor Ben Kessler will work the grill and members of the Civic Improvement Association that helped build the original pool will be on hand to witness the posting of the original site dedication plaque.

If aquatic activities aren't enough for the children that day, there also will be inflatable games. During the cookout, the 415 residents who purchased early-bird passes to the pool will be entered into a raffle to win prizes that include a book of guest passes valued at $80.

The Memorial Day festivities are just the start of the activities that will be hosted at the pool this season. A party May 30 will celebrate the end of the school year for students in fifth grade and older, and June 16, July 3 and Aug. 10, children can participate in an underwater egg hunt. Also June 16 is the Father's Day Splash party.

Each year, the pool also teams up with the city's Fourth of July and Labor Day celebrations and throughout the summer, it offers swimming lessons.

Pool memberships can be purchased prior to the opening at the Parks and Recreation offices at the Jeffrey Mansion. Once the pool is open, the memberships, which range from $100 for a senior individual to $330 for a family of six or more, can be purchased on-site. Baby-sitters or caregivers may be added to a family membership as a Plus 1 for the cost of $115.

For pool hours, call 614-559-4350.

For more information about the Community Pool and to fill out a membership form, visit bexley.org.